Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday that the Trump administration remains focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor disrupted by the ongoing crisis. Speaking during a visit to India, Rubio declared the waterway “has to be open,” calling its closure “unlawful, illegal, unsustainable for the world, and unacceptable.”
Rubio confirmed that U.S. and Iranian representatives are engaged in discussions in Qatar, working through the language of a preliminary agreement. He reiterated President Donald Trump’s position that the United States seeks “a good deal or no deal,” while noting that finalizing the document may require additional time.
Even as diplomacy advanced, U.S. Central Command announced that American forces conducted “self-defense strikes” in southern Iran. Capt. Tim Hawkins said the operation targeted missile facilities and Iranian vessels allegedly involved in efforts to place naval mines near key maritime routes. Officials said the strikes aimed to protect U.S. personnel and assets while preserving the broader cease-fire framework. A senior defense official noted that U.S. aircraft and naval forces operating near the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea had faced threats from Iranian surface-to-air missile systems, with the action occurring near the Iranian naval hub of Bandar Abbas.
Negotiations in Qatar continued despite the military activity. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran and Washington had reached areas of understanding on several issues but stressed that a final agreement had not yet been achieved. He also accused the United States of shifting its positions during the talks.
President Trump said any future agreement with Iran would be “good and proper,” while again criticizing the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated under the Obama administration. He argued that the earlier accord provided Iran economic relief without permanently preventing Tehran from pursuing nuclear weapons capability.
According to a senior U.S. administration official, negotiators have made progress on a proposed framework requiring Iran to eliminate its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and accept major limits on future uranium enrichment. In return, the United States would end its naval blockade and begin a phased reduction of economic sanctions.
Officials said the major political issues have largely been resolved in principle, though technical details, verification procedures, and enforcement measures remain under discussion. Washington’s priority is a long-term, verifiable agreement that prevents Iran from exceeding agreed nuclear limits, with strong enforcement mechanisms viewed as essential. The administration believes recent military pressure has increased Iran’s willingness to negotiate. If completed, the deal would impose stricter restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program than the 2015 accord.
